As we mark Black History Month, we write to share a new website, Yale School of Medicine and Slavery. The site is the product of a pilot research project conducted in 2022-2023 to explore Yale School of Medicine’s (YSM) relationship with slavery during the 19th century, starting with its founding as the Medical Institution of Yale College in 1810. As we celebrate the achievements and culture of Black Americans and their contributions to the rich history and success of our nation, we must also understand and acknowledge the history of our school and its alumni.
The work presented on the website was inspired by the Yale and Slavery Research Project, which Yale University conducted to “understand better our university’s history—specifically Yale’s formative ties to slavery and the slave trade.” The YSM research was completed by John H. Warner, PhD, Avalon Professor in the History of Medicine and Professor of American Studies and of History, and chair of our outstanding History of Medicine department, and postdoctoral fellows Liana DeMarco, PhD, and Sean Morey Smith, PhD. We are grateful to DeMarco, Smith, and Warner for their in-depth and comprehensive review.